Robots to Drive Polaris RANGER at DARPA Robotics Challenge

May 05, 2015 08:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Polaris® Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), the leading
manufacturer of off-road vehicles, today announced that its Limited
Edition DARPA Polaris RANGER® XP 900 EPS and
GEM electric vehicles will be used as part of the DARPA Robotics
Challenge (DRC) Finals to be held June 5-6, at the Fairplex, in Pomona,
Calif.

In the early stages of recent disasters, it became clear there were
limitations to what mitigation steps humans could take due to dangerous
conditions. This DARPA Robotics Challenge was created to spur
development of robotic technology that can help humans to better respond
to future disasters. The Challenge Finals will have robots perform a
number of tasks in a continuous course, simulating what might be
encountered in a real disaster situation. DARPA will use the RANGER
XP 900 EPS in one of the most difficult tasks to help demonstrate a
robot’s ability to operate and to egress from a vehicle, since they are
among the tools commonly on hand in disaster zones. The Polaris RANGER
XP 900 is one of the best-selling vehicles in its class and widely
used around the world with disaster-relief organizations such as the
National Guard, Salvation Army and other first responders.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with DARPA after the
successful DRC Trials in 2013,” said Rich Haddad, general manager of
Polaris Defense. “Off-road vehicles are some of the most useful vehicles
in disaster relief, and our specialized RANGER vehicles were
built to accommodate the robots and provide mobility for the driving
task. In the future, the versatility of the RANGER platform would
allow a robot to transport tools, equipment, supplies and power around a
disaster site, while traversing the difficult terrain often found in
disaster situations.”

The DRC Trials occurred December 20-21, 2013, at the Homestead-Miami
Speedway, where teams guided their robots through eight individual,
physical tasks. One of the toughest of the eight tasks used the custom RANGER
XP 900 EPS to help demonstrate the robots’ ability to operate vehicles,
since they are among the tools commonly on hand in disaster zones. The
driving task during the Finals will require robots to drive the Limited
Edition DARPA RANGER XP 900 EPS on a roadway and weave its way
around obstacles. The robots also will have to egress the vehicle and
attempt to intervene in a mockup disaster site where humans cannot
perform tasks due to danger.

The winning team for the DRC overall will receive a $2 million grand
prize; DARPA plans to award $1 million to the runner-up and $500,000 to
the third-place team.

For the Trials and Finals, Polaris customized the Limited Edition DARPA RANGER
XP 900 EPS so it was an extremely capable mobility platform for
human or robot drivers. The vehicles feature a remote SafeStop
electronic throttle kill, brake actuation technology, a 1000-lb (453 kg)
capacity bed for the robot’s power supply; and inside the cab, a bench
seat and tilt steering for ample room for robots to operate the vehicle.
To maneuver the diverse types of terrains encountered in disasters
without running the risk of flats, the vehicles are also equipped with
TERRAINARMOR™ airless tires.

“The purpose-built DARPA RANGERs are part of our continuing
effort to lead the way in creating extremely-capable off-road vehicle
platforms that are plug-and-play for the robotics companies,” said
Haddad. “This means incorporating by-wire control technology and helping
to provide information about the vehicles to make safe autonomous
operation possible. With all of this, autonomy companies can more easily
integrate the needed hardware and software for unmanned,
optionally-manned and tele-operated off-road vehicles.”

Along with the RANGER XP 900 EPS, Polaris GEM vehicles will be
used during the Challenge as well. When the robots have completed their
tasks, they will be loaded onto the flat bed and transported on the
Polaris GEM eL XD. The eL XD was chosen due to its electric power, quiet
operation, flat bed size, 1450 lbs. load carrying capacity, and its
ability to drive both indoors and out including on public streets. Other
GEM electric vehicles will be seen throughout the event working as VIP
shuttles, and transporting goods and people throughout the campus.

A display of Polaris military and work vehicles can also be found in the
Expo Area of the event.

About Polaris

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual
2014 sales of $4.5 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and
markets innovative, high quality off-road consumer and military
vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER®
and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles,
motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.

Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and
off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight
cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory®
and Indian Motorcycle® and Slingshot® brands.
Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global Work and
Transportation vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM),
Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed
vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of
Polaris Engineered Parts, Accessories and Apparel, Klim branded apparel
and ORV accessories under the Kolpin®, Cycle Country®
and Pro Armor® brands.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock
price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and
vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or
anytime at www.polaris.com.